Prime minister's wife Cherie Booth played hostess at a Downing Street reception on Monday (19 May) to mark the launch of Hospitality Action's new membership scheme.
The aim of the programme, which offers supporters the opportunity to become "members" of the charity in return for a £25 annual fee, is to register 20,000 individual and 10,000 corporate sponsors and raise £2.5m a year (Caterer, 15 May).
Booth became the first "guardian" member. She was presented with a certificate by chef and restaurateur Gary Rhodes, who has agreed to promote the campaign.
Booth said that she and Tony Blair hosted so many official functions and dinners at Downing Street that she often felt part of the hospitality industry.